Longevity and Yoga
Question
Hello,
There is a video about Yogananda saying that with the practice of Yoga an individual can live a 100 years old in a physical body and die peacefully. Then why the majority of famous yogis didnt achieve even 100 years old longevity?
Non-theistic philosophies like Taoism schools say that by practicing some occult alchemical practices someone can be able to live hundread of years even thousand years in their physical bodies like some of the "Eight Immortals". So it means the physical body of ours doesnt decay but always remain the same. I think this subject of longevity is very important for modern science which fear aging and death. Can pranayama extend life to such lenght? Thanks.
Answer
1. Are you the body?
2. Who lives for this many or that many years?
3. Who is it that is interested in a 'long' life?
When you are the self which has no birth or death, which is beyond time, which is infinite & all pervading and has no need for a body, is it not common sense that you should first realize that truth? Why do you want to settle for something less called the body which is limited, impermanent and which will one day perish?
It is like a king who has forgotten his kingship and roams the streets begging for pennies when the whole kingdom with its riches is his.
4. Focus on the self keeping illusions aside. That is Yoga.
All that which has to come will come.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)